Replies

1. 
   highfigh | Oct 11, 2008 07:22pm | #1

   By 'strips', what are their dimensions, how would you attach them and what will be the orientation, relative to the wall's surface.

   Why carbon fiber?

   "I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."
1. 
   rdmhome | Oct 11, 2008 07:30pm | #2

   Highfigh,

   The carbon fiber strips commercial name is "The Reinforcer".

   See website:

   http://www.thereinforcer.com

   The strips are 4 inches wide and about 1/4" thick and epoxied to the wall from floor to ceiling.

   Any help?

   Come on back...

   Bob

1. 
   iluvgear | Oct 11, 2008 07:52pm | #3

   No "strips" are going to correct that problem.  My experience is that bowed basement walls are being pushed; that usually involves water.

2. 
   highfigh | Oct 11, 2008 08:17pm | #5

   This would involve digging outside of the wall, straightening and then installing the strips, right? Leaving the bow, you can't bend the strips in a way that they would do any good. Also, 4" is only 2" less than most of the steel I have seen installed and if you're in a cold area, using steel will allow you to use more insulation. I have a friend who just bought a house with a bowed wall and they corrected it using steel. I looked at one last year too, and the flange helps to ensure that the steel won't tip if the forces exceed what the resistance to bending can resist.
   "I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."

2. 
   DanH | Oct 11, 2008 07:57pm | #4

   In theory it could work, but I have my doubts in practice, and it would be highly dependent on the skill of the installer in any event (not to mention the condition of the block).

   Things that work:
   -- "Deadman" anchors
   -- Vertical steel beams every few feet
   -- Opening up the top of the wall to install rebar and grout the cores

   Corporation: n. An ingenious device for obtaining individual profit without individual responsibility. --Ambrose Bierce
3. 
   jonblakemore | Oct 11, 2008 09:30pm | #6

   We have not installed the reinforcer strips, but I know a very reputable contractor in the area who does install them.

   I think that it can be a very good system, assuming you address the cause of the original problem.

   I would look at the grading of the home first. Do you have 6" of fall in 10' all the way around the house? Do the gutters (if the house has gutters) lead water away from the foundation, or are they dumping it right at the foundation wall? Are there functioning footer drains?

   I do think that water is typically at the root of foundation wall problems like your customer is seeing.

   Once you've corrected the problems, the strips are a good solution from what I know about them. In order for a wall to bow inward, the original straight line of the foundation wall needs to become a curve. Affixing a high tensile strength "strap" to the inside face will help keep things in check.

   Have you contacted the manufacturer of "The Reinforcer"?

    

   Jon Blakemore

   RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA

4. 
   MikeHennessy | Oct 14, 2008 03:23pm | #7

   I've had a couple of clients with similar problems -- I sent 'em to a contractor who specializes in this. He uses kevlar strips bonded to the inside wall with epoxy. So far, all have been pleased with the results. It ain't cheap tho'. Also, never treat the symptom without treating the underlying disease, namely fix the drainage issues outside the foundation no matter what interior fix you go with.

   Mike Hennessy
   Pittsburgh, PA

   
   

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   Edited 10/14/2008 8:24 am ET by MikeHennessy